2026 Tour de France: Preview of Stage 10: A battle in the Massif Central

​Key information about Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France

• Tuesday, 14 July: Aurillac – Le Lioran
• 166.6 kilometres, 3,800 metres of elevation gain (mountainous)
• Mountain climbs: KM 68 (Category 3), KM 97.3 (Category 2), KM 103.8 (Category 3), KM 118.8 (Category 3), km 135.7 (1st category), km 152.1 (1st category), km 163.9 (3rd category)
• Intermediate sprint: 25.5 km
• Start: 1.00 pm, Finish: approx. 5.02 pm
• Live updates and results

The route of the 10th stage of the Tour de France

Following the rest day in the Cantal department, the peloton faces its next challenging stage in the heart of the Massif Central. The route features 3,800 metres of climbing – almost as much as on the Tourmalet stage in the Pyrenees. However, rather than endless climbs, the route through the low mountain range involves a constant series of ascents and descents. A total of seven mountain classifications are scheduled.

The first 60 kilometres of the stage, which begins in Aurillac, are fairly uneventful at first. In a wide loop heading south – which also includes the intermediate sprint after 25 kilometres – the route builds up momentum for the challenging final 100 kilometres. The first mountain classification (3rd category) comes after 68 kilometres; it is quite short, but relatively demanding in terms of its gradient.

After 20 kilometres of flat terrain, however, the route then becomes a series of continuous ascents and descents. The Col de la Griffoul (Category 2), just under six kilometres long with a gradient of 6.7 per cent, is immediately followed – after a three-kilometre descent – by the next Category 3 climb, which is about half as long but has a similar gradient. The route then takes riders over the Côte de Murat (Category 3) to the two most challenging climbs of the day. The Puy Mary (Category 1), at 1,589 metres above sea level, is the highest point of the day. It is reached via an ascent of just under eight kilometres with an average gradient of six per cent. After the descent comes the Col de Pertus (Category 1), which, at four kilometres, is considerably shorter but, at 8.5 per cent, slightly steeper.

Finally, just under three kilometres from the finish, there is another Category 3 climb, before the 500-metre-long final ascent into the mountain resort of Le Lioran, with a gradient of 7.4 per cent, brings the day’s stage to a close.

A sporting analysis of Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France

Anyone who wants to be in contention for the King of the Mountains jersey cannot afford to come away empty-handed on this day. A single rider can pick up as many as 33 points on Stage 10 and, in theory, could even move to the top of the classification even if they haven’t scored a single point in the first nine stages – that is, almost half the Tour.

However, the final stretch will be just as important for the general classification contenders. Although the stage is likely to be dominated by breakaway riders for much of the way, the battle between the favourites for the general classification will begin at Puy Mary at the latest. From there, it is another 30 kilometres to the day’s finish, with three more climbs to come, including the final ascent.

Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) is likely to have particularly fond memories of this final stage. It was here, two years ago, that he won his last Tour stage, even beating Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) in the sprint. A rare occurrence, and at the same time the Slovenian’s last defeat in a head-to-head duel with the Dane. And one that might well call for a rematch.

But things are set to get exciting at the back of the pack once again. In the battle for third place, this stage – which demands plenty of pace and punch – will once again suit the young riders led by Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Pogacar’s right-hand man, Isaac Del Toro. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) is also set to put in another strong performance here, having finished third at the same stage in 2024. The day is likely to be a tough one, however, for his co-captain Florian Lipowitz. The 25-year-old needs long climbs to play to his strengths. In Le Lioran, he’ll have to be careful not to lose too much time to his direct rivals.